Ampoule filling and conveying machine



Aug. 28, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPULE FILLING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR lllllm TBarAer:

ATTORN EY Aug. 28, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPULE FILLING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR William TBarIrer:

ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPULE FILLING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1941. 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1945. w. T. BARKER 2,383,700

AMPULE FILLING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4| INVENTOR William Z'Barlrer lavag W ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPULE FILLING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY atented Aug. 28, 1945 FFIE Application December 1?, 1941, Serial No. 428,270

reference characters denote like parts through- 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the automatic filling of ampoules and the like, and more particularly to a machine for filling, and conveying ampoules, which are adapted to serve as containers for serums, vaccines, and other medicinal preparations.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine of the above nature havin the filling means located on one side thereof, together with a common central screw feed means to cause the ampoules to pass through the machine.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide an improved vampoule filling machine of the above nature which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, compact, substantially automatic in operation, which will print in two colors, and will be very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice. This application is a continuation in part of applicant's co-pending application, Serial No. 262,667, filed March 18, 1939, for Ampoule filling, machines, patented January 9, 1945, No. 2,367,085.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine em bodying the principles and features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line d-d of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. '1.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of a modified form of device associated with the ampoule feeding means shown partly in section and looking in the direction of arrow I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7A is a view of the right hand end of the ampoule feeding means shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the operative parts of the device of Fig. '1 for illustrating the operations thereof.

Fig. 9 is a broken front view of the machine showing a modified form of ampoule elevating mechanism installed therein.

Fig. 10 is a side view of one of the ampoule elevators looking in the direction of arrow i! in Fig. 9.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like out the several views, the numerals Iii, ii, and i2 designate three spaced-apart upright frame plates. The intermediate plate ii is secured to the end plate ill by tie rods it and it, and to the end plate i2 by a tie rod it. The plates it, II, and i2 are secured together by a tie rod it which passes through the plate ii.

In order to feed the ampoules in vertical position through both sides Of the machine, provision is made of two parallel vertically spacedapart helical screws ii and it which extend between and are joumaled in the plates l0 and ii. The feed screws ii and it are provided with right and left-hand helical grooves i9 and 20, respectively. The groove i9 in the upper screws ii, in this instance, is of the proper contour and width to engage the upper small neck portion 2i of the ampoules (see Figs. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, while the groove 20 in the lower screw it is shaped to engage the lower portion 22 of said ampoule. The spiral grooves i9 and 29 are of equal pitch, and the screws iii and it are arranged to be rotated in opposite directions so the ampoules directed against the front side of said screws will be fed to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, from the plate it toward the plate i0, and in so doing, will pass the ampoule filling and sealing stations. The ampoules directed against the rear of the screws ii and 18 will be likewise fed to the left, and will pass the printing station where suitable indicia will be stamped upon the body portion 22 of the ampoules.

It will be understood that the filling and sealing devices at the front of the machine or the printing device at the rear may be simultaneously or selectively operated as desired. The ampoules are introduced into the machine by separate guides or chutes 28 and 24, each comprising three metal bars, down which said ampoules slide by gravity toward the feed screws I1 and i8 respectively.

Screw driving mechanism An electric motor 25 serves as the common source of power for all of the operating parts of the machine, and provision is made of a clutch part 26 rigidly secured upon the endlof the motor shaft 21. Another clutch part 28, which is adapted to have frictional engagement with the clutch part 26, is slidably mounted upon a common drive shaft 29 extending through and Joumaled in the frame plate l2, see Fig. 2. The end 39 of the drive shaft 29 adjacent the frame plate Ii is rotatively supported upon a reduced end 3| of the lower feed screw i9, which is extended through the plate II for this purpose. The crank member 32 of a Geneva gear is secured upon the end 30 of the shaft 29 to cooperate with the disc 33 of said gear to intermittently drive said feed screw I8. The disc 88 of the "Geneva" gear is rotatively mounted upon a stud shaft 84 extending' from the frame plate I I. A gear secured to and rotatable with the disc 28 meshes with a gear pinion 88 secured to the end II of the lower feed screw I8. whereby said "Geneva disc 88 will be intermittently driven.

Another gear 81 is secured on the end 8| of the lower feed screw I8 and meshes with a gear 88 secured to one end 88 of the upper feed screw I1, which is extended through the frame plate II for this purpose.

The clutch part 28 is adapted to be slid along the shaft 29 by means of a clutch shifting lever 48 pivoted on a bracket H to the frame plate I2 and having a forked end 42 riding in a groove 48 formed in a hub member 44 of the clutch part 28. A hand wheel 45 is provided on the clutch part 28 whereby the shaft 29 may, if desired; be rotated by hand for the purpose of adjusting and timing the various devices driven by said shaft.

In order to transfer the ampoules from the I chutes 28 and 24 into the machine, provision is made of a rotary wedge cam 48 secured on the lower feed screw I8 adjacent the frame plate.

I I, and said cam 48 has curved camming surfaces 41 and 48 (Figs. 7 and -''IA) which serve to drive a pair of parallel slidable ampoule pushers 49 and 58 toward and away from the delivery ends of the chutes 23 and 24, respectively. The pushers 49 and 58 are carried, one at each side ogthe feed screws I1 and I8, by a cross-block 5| having a longitudinal stem 52 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 58 secured in and extending from the frame plate II over the cam 48. A pin 54' tending downwardly from the stem 52 is alt ately acted upon by the camming surfaces 41 and 48 to simultaneously move the pushers 48 and 58 back and forth. The arrangement is such that at every stroke of the pushers 48 and 58, ampoules will be pushed from the delivery ends of both magazine chutes 28 and 24. along which the same are being fed, into the grooves I9 and 28 of the feed screws I1 and I8 to start the feed of the ampoules thereby.

Ampoule filling apparatus As the ampoules are fed along toward the frame plate I8 by the feed screws I1 and I8, their bases will ride upon a support bar 58, and the body portions 22 of said ampoules are loosely held against the lower screw I8 by a side guide bar 51 (see Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7). As each ampoule is fed along the support bar 55 to the filling device, it rides onto an elevator plate 58 having a downwardly projecting stem 59 (see Fig. 3) slidably mounted in a stationary sleeve 88. A horizontal pin 8| extending from the stem 59 is connected to one end 82 of a lever 88 pivoted at 84 to the frame plate II (see Fig. 3). The lever 88 is extended along the machine and has a roller 85 mounted upon an ofiset end 68 thereof (see Fig. 4). The roller 85 is disposed to ride upon the periphery of a cam 81 secured to a sleeve 88, rotatably mounted upon the shaft 28. The rotation of the cam 81 will rock the lever 88 and cause the elevator plate 58 to lift the particular ampoule resting thereon into filling position with respect to a filling needle tube 88 extending downwardly from a liquid measuring device supported upon the tie rod I4 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The needle tube 89 is adapted to enter the neck portion 2I of the ampoule for a substantial distance when the ampoule is raised by the elevator II.

The neck portion 2i of the ampoule is accurately centered with respect to the needle tube 88 entering the same by a funnel-shaped member I8 mounted for free up and down sliding movement on the needle tube 89 and hung from the liquid measuring device by fingers II and 12 secured to a square lower casing member II of the measuring device by a nut I4, surrounding said needle tube 89. The interior of a cylindrical sleeve 'I'I in the casing member I8 is connected by apipe I8 to an overhead source of liquid supply, such as a reservoir I8 (Fig. 3) The sleeve I1 is secured to the rod I4 by a clamp I5 and nuts I8. The cylinder TI is connected to the tube 88 by a lower aperture in which the screw I4 is located. It will be understood that the lifting of the ampoules at the filling station takes place during a "dwelP of the feed screws.

Operation of ampoule filling device The camming groves 81, 88 are of such contour that the filling piston will force liquid down through the needle tube 89 into the ampoule at the proper time, as fully described in my prior Patent No. 2,367,085, previously mentioned.

The reciprocating liquid filling piston is connected to one end 89 of a rod 98 (see Fig. 4) which is connected at its other end to the upper end Q is connected to a horizontal bar 98, slidably mounted between the casing members I3, I5 of the measuring apparatus.

The other end of the bar 98 is pivoted to a rod I88 having a threaded section 99, and said rod in turn is connected at its other end to the upper end I8I of a lever I82. The lever I82 is pivoted at I88 to the tie rod- I5 and extends downwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the periphery of the cam 88. A roller I84 on the lower end of the lever I82 rides in the cumming groove 88 of the cam 88.

Ampoule sealing device After the ampoule has been filled with liquid, the Geneva" gear is then partly rotated to cause the feed screws I1 and I8 to force the filled ampoule along the bar support 58 which is inclined upwardly for lifting the ampoule to a raised portion I85 of said bar 56. The ampoule neck portion M will at this time be disposed in the path of a plurality of small converging gas jets emitted from a like number of opposed openings I 86 and I8I provided respectively in a pair of parallel spaced-apart burner bars I89 and I89 located above the feed screws I1, and I9.

The burner bars I88 and I89 are hollow and supplied with gas under suitable pressure by tubes H2 and 8 (Fig. 6) to a common pipe H4 which is secured to the tie rod l3 by a clamp H5. The supply tube II4 extends from the clamp M5 to a burner regulator I I8 and thence to a source of gas supply (not shown) through a tube 1. Manual adjustment of the burner regulator H6 may be readily made to insure the proper blue flames of suillcient heat to melt the top of the neck portions 2| of the ampoules during the dwell period of the spiral screws, whereby perfect seals II8 will be obtained.

Ampoule printing device The ampoule printing device includes a pair of circular inking ratchet and pawl driven platens H8 and I20 of the usual fiat form, said platens being mounted for rotation on a frame member I2I which is secured to the tie rod I8 by screws I22. Inking rollers I28 and I24 mounted to rotate on a common shaft I25 are arranged to be reciprocated over the surface of the platens H8 and I20, respectively, to collect ink therefrom and carry it to printing type I28 and I21 carried by holders I28 and I28, respectively. The holders I28 and I28 are arranged to be swung toward and away from the ampoules being fed by the screws I1 and I8, the bases of said ampoules being slidingly supported by an elongated bar I30 (see- Fig.

The movement of the inking rollers I28 and I24 over the platens I I8 and I20, and of the type holders I28 and I28 toward and away from the ampoules being fed by screws I1 and I8, is effected by an eccentric disc I3I secured upon a sleeve which is rotatably mounted on the common drive shaft 28 adjacent the frame plate I2. The periphery of the disc I 3I has a groove in which rides a, ring I84. By this construction, it will be seen that the continuous rotation of the disc I3I will reciprocate a connecting rod I connected to the ring I 88 and cause it to rock an arm I38 secured to a rock-shaft I31 (Fig. 4) journaled in and extending between the frame plates I I and I2. The rock-shaft I31 extends beyond the frame plate II, and is also journaled in a bearing plate I38 which extends forwardly from the tie rod I8. A tie rod I38 connects the plate I38 to the frame plate I0.

An arm I48 secured to the rock-shaft I31 (Fig. 6) and extending upwardly therefrom is provided with an elongated slot I4I in its upper end to receive one end of the inking roller shaft I25. An elongated bracket I42 secured to the 'arm I40 extends under the platens H9 and I20 and then upwardly as an arm I43. The arm I43 has an elongated slot I44 in its upper end to receive the other end of the shaft I28. Springs I45 are connected to each of the arms I40 and I43 and to the adjacent ends of the shaft I25 to retain the respective shaft ends in the slots I and I44.

A segment cam I48 (see Fig. 6) having a cam slot I41 therein is secured to the rock-shaft I31,

said cam slot embracing a roller I50 carried by a bell-crank lever I48 pivoted at I49 to the hearing plate I38. The other end I 5| of the lever I48 is connected by a link I52 to an arm I53 secured to a shaft I54 journaled in a bracket I55 secured on the bearing plate I38. The shaft I54 extends out of the bracket I55 toward the frame plate I0 and has an arm I58 secured thereto (see Fig. 2). The arm I58 has a screw threaded pin I51 therein adjacent its free end I58.

Provision is also made of arms I58 and I80 rotatably mounted on the shaft I54, one on each side of the arm I58. Each of the arms I58 and I80 has an elongated slot I8I therein through which the pin I51 extends. Nuts I82 are screwthreaded on each end of the pin I51 to.clamp each of the arms .I58 and I80 tothe arm I58.

A stud I83 is pivoted on a vertical axis in the upper end of each of the arms I58 and I80, and

is clamped in place by a set screw I84 (Fig. 8). Pins I85 are provided in the upper end of each of the studs I83, said pins I85 extending from the studs I8I in opposite directions for receiving lugs I88 extending rearwardly from the type holders I28 and I28 in'which the pins I85 are journaled. The lugs I88 are held in place on the pins I85 by set screws I81. The provision of the pin I51 and the elongated slots I8I permits adjustment of the holders I28 and I28 toward and away from the ampoules in respect to the arm I88. The pivoted studs I88 permit twisting of the type holders on a vertical axis and the pins I88 permit movement of the type holders on a horizontal axis to adjust them relatively to the ampoules being fed along by the feed screws I1 and I8. A rubber covered edge I88 of a stationary bar I88 engages the neck portions 2| of the ampoules as they are fed past the type holders I28 and I28 to cause said ampoules to spin about their vertical axes upon the supporting bar I30.

Selective drive arrangement Since the ampoule filling and sealing mechanisms need not be in operation when the printing mechanism is in operation, means are herein provided to independently and selectively drive said mechanisms. For this purpose, provision is made of a small cylindrical hub I 18 (see Fig. 2) keyed to the common drive shaft 28 and disposed between the sleeves 88 and I32, which are freely rotatable on the shaft 28. A pair of clutch keys I" and I12, which are freely slidable axially in the cam 85 and in the disc I3I respectively, are adapted to he slid into a key-way I13 formed in the hub I10 by springs I14 and I15, respectively. Clutch control fingers I18 and I11 are arranged to lie in beveled slots I18 and I19 formed in the clutch keys "I and I12, respectively, to hold the 41) respective keys in retracted position and out of the key-way I13. The clutch control fingers I18 and I11 are urged and retained in key-holding position by springs I and I8I (see Figs. 1 and 2) secured to a stud I82 extending from the plate I2 and to each finger I18 and I11, respectively.

The clutch control fingers I18 and I11 are adapted to be automatically held out of the slots I18 and I18, respectively, to selectively release either of the keys HI and I12, so long as the ampoules are being fed along by the screws I1 and I8 from the delivery end of either of the chutes 23 and 24. When ampoules are being delivered in front of the screws I1 and I8 from the chute 23 and fed toward the filling device, they are caused to engage a filling detector finger I83 (see Fig. 7) having a stem I84 supported in a stationarybearing sleeve I85 to swing on a vertical axis. The stem I84 extends downwardly and is connected to one end of a hollow shaft I88 (Fig. 7) by means of an arm I81 secured to the lower end of the stem I84, an arm I88 secured on the shaft I88, and a link I88 connecting the arm I81 and I88. One clutch control finger I18 is secured to the other end of the hollow shaft I88.

The other clutch finger I11 is connected to one end-oi a shaft I80 which extends through .the hollow shaft I88 and has an arm I8I secured upon its other end. 'A detector finger I92 similar to the finger I83 is positioned to be engaged by ampoules as they are being fed toward the printing device from the chute 24 and has a stem I93 end of the stem I53 and is connected to the arm ISI by a link I95.

Selective p ration of filling and sealing mechanism When a plurality of ampoules are being-fed from the delivery and of the chute 23 toward-the filling and sealing mechanisms, they will automatically engage the detector finger I53 (Fig. 7) and swing it in a direction to rock the clutch control finger I16 out of the slot I18 in the clutch key I1I (Fig. 4) whereupon the key I1I will be pressed into the key-way I13 (Fig. 2) in the hub I10 by the spring I14. The connection between the piston cam 85 and the hub I10 (Fig. 1) by the key "I drivingly connects the piston cam 85, the plug cam 85, and the ampoule elevating cam 51 through the sleeve 68 to the common drive shaft 29. This causes the ampoules as they pass the filling device to be automatically filled with liquid and to continue past the sealing device as long as there are any ampoules in engagement with the detector finger I83.

When the supply of ampoules in the chute 25 is exhausted, the clutch control finger I15 will be swung into key-withdrawing position by the spring I "Land the above operations will be instantly stopped, thereby preventing the discharge of filling liquid from the needle tube 55.

. Modified form of printing device Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 wherein a modifled form of printing mechanism is illustrated, the reference number 200 designates a segment cam which, like the corresponding segment cam I46, supra (see Fig. 1), is secured to the rockshaft I31. The cam 200 has an arcuate slot 20I therein embracing a roller 202 carried by one end of a bell crank lever 203. The other end 205 of the bell crank lever 203 is connected by a link 201 to a pair of arms secured to a shaft 205 adjacent an elongated bar 2| which extends rearwardly from the shaft 205 and is secured to the tie rod I6 byapair of nuts 2.

A printing type holder 2 is rockably mounted on a bracket which is secured to the upper surface of a pair of link arms by a threaded rod 2" whereby vertical adjustment of the type H in the holders 2 may be obtained. By means of this construction, it will be seen that a rocking movement of the shaft I31 through the instrumentality of the cam slot 20I, roller 202, bell crank lever 203, link 201, and the link arms will cause the printing types 2I8 to move either forwardly to the printing position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 to print upon ampoules 22 as they pass thereby, or to move rearwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8, to be inked. The neck portions 2I of the ampoules 22 as they are fed along the supporting bar I30 engage a rubber tubing 2I5, held by an adjustable stationary channel bar 220, whereby they are caused to spin uniformly as they are being printed.

.A pivoted printing type holder frame member 22I (see Fig. 8) is provided for each type 2l5.

The type 2! is arranged to be inked once for every ampoule 22 which passes through the machin and this is accomplished by the oscillation of the rock-shaft I31 in timed relation with the action of the cam slot 2IlI. For this purpose, provision is made of an adjustable arm 235 (see Fig. 8) secured to the segment cam 200 by being pivoted on the shaft I31 and by a bolt passing through the arm 235 and an elongated slot 231 in said segment cam 200, is pivotally secured to one end of an adjustable link 238 having a turnbuckle 240, whereby the throw of the driving racks 245 and 250 may be adjusted as desired. The

outer end 235 of the turnbuckle link 238 is pivoted upon a cross-rod 24I (Fig. 7) extending between a pair of inclined parallel rods 242 and 243 which are pivoted at their lower ends to the rear end 244 of the bar 2l0.

The rods 242 and 243 extend upwardly and have their upper ends pivotally secured to the upper ends of a pair of short links 245, and 245 respectively, which links have their other ends pivotally secured to inverted U-shaped clips 241 and 245. The clips 241 and 245 are loosely secured to the upper ends of a pair of inclined elongated floating toothed racks 245 and 250 respectively by screws 25I. By means of this construction, it will be seen that a rocking movement of the shaft I31 will oscillate the rods 242 and 243 to slide the racks 245 and 250 upwardly and downwardly as guided by slots 252 and 253 formed in a pair of fixed elongated side supporting plates 254 and 255, which slots receive the outer ends of a shaft 255 upon which the clips 241 and 248 are pivoted and which extends between the supporting side plates 254 and 255.

The racks 245 and 250 are inclined downwardly and forwardly and have teeth on their lower faces which are adapted to mesh with shiftable pinions 255 and 259 (see Fig. '1), which are secured on the common shaft 250 of a pair of resilient composition-covered inking rollers 28I and 252. Provision is also made of a pair of idle guiding flanged rollers 255 and 254 freely rotatable on a cross shaft 255 which is iournaled at each end in journal plates 255 and 251 secured to the side supporting plates254 and 255 to maintain the teethof the racks 245 and 250 in mesh with the respective pinions 258 and 259 and limit- 0 ing upward swinging movement of said racks.

' The above described system of links, arms and levers is arranged to be counterbalanced by coil springs 255 and 255 acting on the inclined rods 242 and 243 respectively (see Fig. '7)

The soft composition inking rollers 25I and 252 are adapted to ink the types 2I8 twice on each operation by rolling forwardly and then reversely over them. The rollers will then be retracted into contact with metallic ink rollers 268 and 255 respectively, which are adapted to receive ink from wicks 21I carried at the end of spouts 213 leading from sources of ink supply in the form of cups 214 and 215 which are adapted to be regulated to adjust the flow of ink therefrom and to the spouts 213 respectively in the manner of any well-known standard oil cup. The metallic ink rollers 255 and 255 are rotatably mounted between the iournal plates 255 and 251, and said metal rollers 285 and 250 are provided with gear pinions 215 and 211 secured thereto (see Fig. 8). The gear pinions 215 and 211 are adapted to mesh with the shiftable pinions 258 and 255 respectively, whenever the inking rollers HI and 252 are in retracted position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 8, in which position the metallic ink rollers 255 and 255 will transfer a coating of ink from the wicks 2" to the inking rollers 28I and 252.

During the transfer of ink from the rollers 255 and 253 to the composition inking rollers 25I and 252, both of said sets of rollers will rotate one complete turn due to the meshingrelation of the respective pinions on said rollers, and the racks 245 and 250 will be moved in the proper assaroo direction to rotate the shiftable pinions 258 and 259. The composition rollers 2M and 262 with their pinions 268 and 259 will be guided upwardly against the metallic rollers 288 and 269 and downwardly over the type 2l8 by having the ends of the common shaft 260, upon which they are mounted, guided in elongated slots formed in each of the plates 268 and 261 (see Fig- 7).

It will be clear that as the racks 249 and 250 are moved upwardly, the shiftable pinions 258 and 259 will rotate in the proper direction so that the shaft 260 will be advanced upwardly to cause the pinions 258 and 259' to mesh with the gear pinions 216 and 211 respectively.

Moreover, as the racks 249-and 250 are moved downwardly, the reverse action will take place,-

and the pinions 258, 259, and 216, 211 will become disengaged. The pinions 258 and 259 will also mesh with short racks 282 disposed beneath said pinions and secured upon each of the side plates 256 and 255 respectively. The first tooth of each of said racks 282 will be out of mesh with the pinions 258 and 259, while they are in engagement with the gear pinions 216 and 2'. When the pinions 258, 259 engage the short racks 282, the racks 269 and 250 will cooperate therewith to cause the shaft 260 to move downwardly and rotate the ink covered rollers 2!" and 282 over the printing types 288, the latter having been previously moved into position to be inked.

The bar which supports the rubber tube 2W is pivotally supported upon the shaft 209 by means of arms 288 (see Fig. 8) and said bar is limited in its rearward swinging movement by adjustable screws, not shown, arranged to be en.- gaged by the arms 2B8.

In order to prevent the shiftable rollers 26B, 262 from moving downwardly prematurely before the type holder has been swung back into inking position, the type holder frame members are each provided with a stop plate 291a. The stop plates 291a will obstruct the path of the shaft 7 260 of the rollers 2, 232, and will prevent itfrom moving into contact with the first tooth of the short racks 282 until the type holder frame members have been swung down out of the way by the engagement of the type holders 2M with a stop screw not shown. The numerals 298 and 299 indicate coiled springs (see Fig. 7).

Selective operation of filling and sealing mechanism when a plurality of ampoules are being fed from the delivery end of the chute 23 toward the filling and sealing mechanisms, they will automatically engage the detector finger I83 (Fig. '7) and swing it in a direction to rock the clutch control finger H6 out of the slot "8 in the clutch key ill (Fig. 4), whereupon the key "I will be pressed into the key-way "3 (Fig. 2) in the hub lill by the spring H4. The connection between the piston cam 85 and the'hub I10 (Fig. 2) by the key IIH drivingly connects the piston cam 85, the plug cam 86, and th ampoule elevating cam 61 through the sleeve 68 to the common drive shaft 28. lhis causes the ampoules spring I80, and the above operations will be instantly stopped, thereby preventing the discharge of filling liquid from the needle tube 69.

Improvealform of ampoule elevating mechanism In Figs. 9 and 10, a modified form of ampoule elevating mechanism is shown which. may be used in place of the previously described elevator 58 (see Fig. 3). In this modified form, provislon is made of an angular elevator plate 302 which is seated upon the upper end of a vertically reciprocable rod 8M to which it is slidably connected as by a pin 302 extending from a lug 302 .secured to the plate 300 and passing into a hole provided in the upper end of the rod 30!, whereby the plate 300 may slide laterally upon the end of the rod 2M but is connected thereto for reciprocable movement therewith. The plat 300 is normally in alignment with the upper surface of the ampoule guide strip 56 (see full lines in Fig. 10) to receive ampoules fed therealong by the feed screws i1 and it, and when in raised position, said plate disposes the ampoule rearwardly in filling position in accurate registration with the funnel-shaped member ill (see Fig. 6).. In its vertical reciprocable movements, the plate M2 is guided by a camming strip 306 and is moved laterally away from the feed screws I? and it by the cooperating action of a roller 305 in. the lug 322 with an offset carnmlng slot 306 provided in the strip we to swing the body 22 of the ampoule away from thefeedscrew il into filling position, asindicated. in dotted lines in Fig. 10.

The plate 2% is adapted to be moved upwardly by a weight 321 attached to the end of a cord 308 which is led over a small pulley 309 and then secured to the rod adjacent the lower end thereof. The rod son is guided by being enclosed 'in a stationary tubular guide 310, to which the camming strip is secured. The tubular guide 3w is slotted in both sides to allow the end of a lever 3H, corresponding to the-lever 63 (see Fig. 3 supra), to pass therethrough. The lever 3i i may thus move up in the guide tube, and if for any reason the-filling needle tube 69 fails to enter the neck of the ampoule the possibility of injury to or breakage of said ampoule is thereby prevented. The fiiling operation occurs during a dwell in the motion of the elevator plate and is similar tothat described on pages 5 and '6 for the first form of the invention. The lever 3 is pivoted at 812, corresponding to the pivot point 84, supra, and extends to a point below a cam 8l3, corresponding to the cam 61 on the shaft 29, supra, where it is connected to the cam 3w as by a slidable link 3 (see Fig. 9). The lower end of the lever 2 passes into a slot M5 formed in the lower'end of the rod 3M whereby rocking movement of the lever Bit ,by the cam M3 in a clockwise direction will permit the weight 307 to raise the table 300 and movement of said rod 30! in the other direction to pull the plate 300 downwardly into'its aligned position in respect to the guide 56. The movement of th cams 3 I3 is timed in relation to the other machine operations to raise an ampoule into filling position when the filling mechanism is actuated. Simultaneous with the raising of the plate 300, th upper end of a fiat vertical bar M8 movable with the plate 300 will engage a swingable T-shaped guide rod 8H to raise it out of the way of the ampoule being lifted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10, thus preventing Jamming of the ampoules when the latter are in raised position.

Another elevator table M8 for raising the ampoules into sealing position is secured upon the ,upper end of a rod 320 guided in a stationary bracket 32!. The plate H9 is adapted to receive an ampoule after it has been filled from the guide I! and to raise it still higher to the level of the raised guide portion III. This action is accomplished by pivotalhv connecting the rod I20 by means of a" link 32! to the end of a lever 323 also pivoted at It! and extended to below a cam 824 secured on the shaft II adjacent the cam "I where it is connected to the cam 32 by a slidable link 32!. The cam 324 is timed in relation to the feed of the ampoules along the guide it by the feed screws I1 and i8, and serves to lift the ampoules up to the level of the raised guide portion It! to be guided thereby into position to be sealed by the ampoule sealing means above described.

While there has been disclosed in this specification everal forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures, but may be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In an ampoule conveying machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittently-rotated feed screws, each having a helical groove formed in the surface thereof, means to guide a plurality of ampoules in vertical position and hold them in the successive turns of said feed screws and on both sides thereof comprising a horizontal ampoule-supporting bar below the lowermost feed screw, and side guide members for said ampoules. whereby said ampoules will be automatically advanced in a horizontal direction by the rotation of said feed screws, filling means and means responsive to the absence of ampoules in said feed screws to automatically stop the operation of said filling means.

In an ampoule conveying and filling machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittently-rotated feed screws, each having a helical groove formed in the surface thereof, means to hold said ampoules in the successive turns of aid feed screws. whereby they will be advanced horizontally by the rotation of said screws, an ampoule filling nozzle, a movable plate for supporting an ampoule in vertical position below said nozzle, said plate being initially located at one side of and below said nozzle, and camoperated means to simultaneously raise said plate and move it laterally to carry the ampoule supported thereon into exact registry with said nozzle to permit said ampoule to be filled.

3. In an ampoule conveying machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittently-rotated feed screws of identical pitch, said upper feed screw having a shallow narrow helical groove in its surface to fit the small necks of the ampoules, said lower feed screw having a deep wide helical groove in its surface to fit the large bases of said ampoules, a flat horizontal guide member below the lower screw to upport a plurality of ampoules on one side of said feed screws, and means to hold said ampoules in vertical position in the successive turns of said feed screws and on both sides thereof, whereby said ampoules will be advanced in a horizontal directlon by the rotation of said feed screws.

4. In an ampoule conveying machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittently-rotated upper and lower feed screws, said screws having helical grooves'in their surfaces to lit the top and bottom sections, respectively, of the ampoules conveyed thereby, a flat horizontal guideway below said lower screw to support said ampoules, means to hold said ampoules in vertical position in the successive turns of said feed screws and on both sides thereof, whereby said ampoules will be advanced in a horizontal direction by the rotation of said feed screws, an inclined magazine to hold a supp y of ampoules, a reciprocating pusher member, and a cooperating cam cooperating with said pusher member for successively forcing said ampoules horizontally into contact with said feed screws.

5. In an ampoule conveying machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittently-rotated upper and lower feed screws, said screws having helical grooves in their surfaces to fit the top and bottom sections, respectively, of the ampoules conveyed thereby, a flat horizontal guideway below said lower screw to support said ampules, means to hold said ampoules in vertical position in the successive turns of said feed screws and on both sides thereof, whereby said ampoules will be advanced in a horizontal direction by the rotation of said feed screws, a pair of inclined magazines containing vertical ampoules, a reciprocating pusher member, and a rotary wedge ear having a pair of opposed cam blades mounted on the end of said lower feed screw cooperating with said pusher member for forcing the ampoules from both of said magazines alternately into contact with said feed screws on both sides thereof.

6. In an ampoule conveying machine, a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontal intermittenthr-rotated upper and lower feed screws, said screws having helical grooves in their surfaces to fit the top and bottom sections, respectively, of the ampoules conveyed thereby, a fiat horizontal guideway below said lower screw to support said ampoules, means to hold said ampoules in vertical position in the successive turns of said feed screws and on both sides thereof, whereby said ampoules will be advanced in a horizontal direction by the rotation of said feed screws, a pair of inclined magazines containing vertical ampoules, a rotating wedge having a pair of opposed cam blades mounted on the end of said lower feed screw, and a reciprocating pusher member having a vertical pin which is engageable by said blades alternately to cause ampoules to be pushed from the delivery ends of said magazines into the grooves of said feed screws.

7. In an ampoule conveying machine, a horizontal intermittently-rotated feed screw having a deep helical groove formed in the surface thereof, a flat guideway below said screw to support a plurality of ampoules in vertical condition, means to hold said ampoules in successive turns of said groove on both sides of said feed screw, whereby all of said ampoules will be advanced simultaneously by said feed screw, an inclined magazine for initially holding said ampoules in vertical position, a reciprocating pusher block for successively engaging said ampoules'as they come from said maganne, and a rotary cam mechanism driven by said feed screw for actuating said pusher block.

WILLIAM 'I. BARKER. 

